Medical Conditions

Diabetic/Wound Care   ·   Reconstructive Surgery   ·   Regenerative/Sports Medicine

Special Procedures

Regenerative Medicine: Dr. Bruce Lerman is considered an expert in the development of growth factor therapy and its application in wound care. He started the O’Connor Wound Care Clinic over 20 years ago. Now considered the “Mecca” of wound care on the west coast. Currently he is the Medical Director of the Clinic. He was a consulting physician for Novartis tissue engineering committee, Organogenesis bioengineered skin products, Spiracur leader of negative pressure therapy and the newer amniotic products. Those initial principles of using growth factors to heal complex wound has over the past 20 years expanded to many areas of foot and ankle advanced treatment and surgery. We offer:

Lapiplasty Bunionectomy

For patients who are dealing with bunions, our podiatrists are taking on the three-dimensional problem by perform a revolutionary new type of bunion surgery called Lapiplasty®.

The new procedure transforms the treatment of painful bunions by correcting the root cause of the problem — a misaligned metatarsal bone–while dramatically shortening the time patients have to wait to bear weight on the affected foot. Using advanced instrumentation, the entire metatarsal bone is corrected in all three dimensions, restoring it to its proper alignment while naturally removing the bump and straightening the toe. The unstable joint is then fused with titanium plates, which permanently secures the correction in place.

Since the procedure uses advanced fixation technology, many patients are able to bear weight on their foot within days after surgery, providing an alternative to traditional bunionectomy, which can take up to six weeks. For the first few days, the foot is wrapped in bandages, followed by a surgical boot for walking. Lapiplasty® does not limit footwear choices or physical activity, and most patients can return to sports in about four months, once the bones have completely healed.

Laser Nail Treatment

Laser nail treatment is used to help remove fungal nail infections, particularly onychomycosis. This infection leads to gradual changes in both the appearance and texture of nails. It leads to characteristic discoloration that can be yellow, white, or brown. Laser devices can partially or totally clear away the discoloration along with the associated fungus. Although there remains a chance the infection will return, that’s also true of all the other treatments currently available. Laser therapy is often used in conjunction with other methods to help cure the infection, but long term care to prevent reinfection is crucial for outstanding outcomes.

Laser treatment can also be used to stimulate the body’s natural healing response in and around the feet. Certain wavelengths of laser light are associated with increased blood flow, healthy cellular turnover, and ultimately, tissue repair. That makes it a possible treatment for a wide range of conditions that involve foot trauma, particularly when healing has been slow.

Laser treatment is chosen for a wide range of reasons:

• Laser treatment has reduced associated risks and can be used by most patients
• It can, in many cases, produce noticeable results after a short course of treatment
• You may experience heat or mild discomfort associated with most podiatry laser treatments
• Laser treatment does not generally require a long period of recovery

Plantar Fasciitis and Tendon Treatments

PRP: platelet-rich plasma injections… utilizing growth factors derived from your own blood to treat injured tendons, plantar fasciitis and intraoperatively to improve healing.

Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT)  EPAT  also known as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Bone and Joint Surgery Regnerative Medicine; assisted with bone marrow aspiration applied to osteotomies, bone grafts and joint surfaces

Stem Cell Therapy: Using your own stem cells to help heal both common surgeries like bunionectomies, to enrich bone grafts, delayed unions and complex crush injuries.

Nerve Treatments

Amniotic tissue and bioengineered skin products are now being used in many areas of medicine. Treatment in complex wounds, tendon surgery and nerve surgery. Dr. Lerman utilizes amnionic tissue help to prevent scar tissue formation in the treatment of Tarsal Tunnel Decompression . To avoid removal of a Morton’s neuroma in many cases a nerve relocation is done and amnion is used to help nerve regeneration and prevent scaring around the decompressed relocated nerve fiber. Similarly he uses amnion to prevent scaring around the nerves of the tarsal tunnel.

Wound Care

Diabetes Care in San Jose, CA: We are experts in Diabetic Care having over 25years of experience in treating complex diabetic conditions at the O’Connor Hospital Wound Care Clinic. (408) 947-2804. Technologies include: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, growth factor therapy, Luna diagnostics, wound debridement and negative pressure therapy.

Surgical procedures are performed in either Bascom surgery center or Silicon surgery center which provide the most up-to-date equipment, the outstanding Group Anesthesia and an incredibly efficient staff. Complicated cases which require hospitalization are admitted to recognized local hospitals: Good Samaritan Hospital, El Camino Hospital or O’Connor hospital. Minor surgeries like ingrown toenails are performed in the office.

Our Board-Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeons have extensive experience with treating the following diagnosis:

To learn more, the official site of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.